Wildwood Crest Reorganizes for ’19

WILDWOOD CREST – Municipal reorganization meetings are the occasion for resolutions setting up schedules, making appointments and establishing annual contracts. They are housekeeping meetings preparing for the new year.
Wildwood Crest Borough Commission’s meeting Jan. 2 was just that.
The November elections did not have an impact on the three-member commission.
The meeting moved quickly to a list of 52 resolutions appointing a prosecutor and a public defender for the municipal court, reestablished Ronald Gelzunas as the borough solicitor and named various attorneys for special areas of legal services such as affordable housing issues, bond offerings, and zoning and planning concerns.
Along with the various forms of legal services, commissioners passed a resolution designating Marc DeBlasio as borough engineer.
The governing body appointed individuals to various boards and commissions, approved the Community Forest Management Plan, contracted with a special consultant specializing in police accreditation, set up a relationship with Triad Associates to seek funding opportunities and authorized an agreement with an architectural firm for conceptual design and space analysis of Borough Hall.
With its routine business completed, the commissioners opened the meeting to the public.
Beach Tags
The issue which took up most of the public comment period was beach tags. Two residents urged the governing body to reconsider instating beach tags as a means of reducing the inflow of day trippers who visit from nearby municipalities “to use the free beach.”
Mayor Don Cabrera explained that the beach tag issue is a complicated one which may offer no easy solution. He reminded residents that the borough received almost $300,000 in Greater Wildwood Tourism Improvement and Development Authority funds that would end if beach tags were instituted.
“There would be revenue lost as well as revenue gained,” he said.
Cabrera also pointed out that many new areas of expense would also have to be considered in terms of staff payroll and establishment of financial controls and oversight.
He also noted that this was an island-wide issue and not one that should be looked at only from the borough’s perspective.
Commissioner Joyce Gould reminded that a referendum was held on this issue in 2013. The result was a rejection of any plans for beach tags.
Commissioner David Thompson echoed the caution expressed by his colleagues, noting that the Crest has 42 streets that can provide access to the beaches. The logistical problems associated with such a policy are difficult and need careful consideration.
There was no resolution to the issue nor was one expected. It is a concern that intertwines with the frustration over parking near the beaches.
Gould pointed out that no changes could be contemplated until after an upcoming Army Corps of Engineers dune project.
For the foreseeable future, the borough will continue to take the tourism funding it gets and leave its beaches free.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.